Means for propelling air and water craft



Oct. 7, 1930. w 0775 MEANS FOR PRoPELLIfiG AIR AND WATER cRArr Filed July. 31, 2 sheets-sheet 1 &

" is "WJ -Oct. 1, 1930. w. Po 1 111,652

MEANS FOR PROPELLING AIR AND WATER CRAFT Filed July 31, 1928 2 Sheets-811661, 2

Zia

Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES F WILLIAM ro'r'rs, or NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,ENGLAND MEANS FOR rnorELLrNe Amfenn WATERCRAFT Application filed July 31, 1928. serial 296,580, and in Great Britain May 22,1928.

I The inventionrelates to improvements in means for propelling air and water craft of the kind wherein pivoted Wings form the propellingmedium, and it has for its object to provide an'improved device ofthis kind primarily designed for use with air craft,

and wl1erein".the wings may be-used for propelling, for vertical ascent and descent,,

' hovering or to act as a brake, with a smooth 'gbya' return movement in a plane substantially transverse to that. of the power im-z .balancedaction free from vibration sudden reversals ofmovement.

due to According to, theinvention the wings have a. power impulse in one direction followed pulse, {sothat 1tliewings feather o'n the return strokewith the edges leading, and

wherein'the'change of movement at the end;

i of the strokeis a gradual one so that a smooth-action is ensured, means being also.

. provided whereby the amplitude and also the direction of the power strokemay be varied,-

i The device comprlses essentiallvla driv mg shaft carrying at each end a-plvoted wingprojecting beyond theendof the shaft and arranged to turn with the latter, and] means whereby each wing isrocked about its pivot substantially transverse to the shaft axis to perform its power strokeduring a portlon of the rotationof the shaft, the vings during continued rotat1on-return1ng H edge onfor-thev commencementbf afresh reference to the 1 impulse. The means for tilting the wings to effect the powerstroke are so designed as to effectthis movement rapidly during a comparatively small part of the rotation of] the shaft, so that the powerstroke is completed prior to thewing passing the desired direction of movement.

Theinvention willnowbe described with accompanying drawings, in which i shaft.

Fig. 2 is an Fig. 3 is a plan" showing the general arrangement.

Fig. 4:is a perspective view of a detail.

Fig. 6 is a plan v ew Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the wing a modified drive for thewlngs, and

section.

. Fig. 5 shows" in longitudinal section one end of thewingshaft with Fig. 5', partly in Referring to the construction shown in -Figs. 1 to 40f thedrawings, theshaft carrying. the wings comprises two tubularshaft members 1, 2 mterconnectedat their lnner ends"- and presenting at their outer ends' drums 3. The members 1, 2 aresupported for rotation at their outer ends in enveloping frames & with the air ofbearings 5, and are furthersupported by intermediate bearings 6, said frames 4 being rigidly connected to a cross frame member 7 "of theframe 58 of the craft. The wingshaft'being similar at both ends reference will now be made toone end only. Theframe 4E carries guide rods 8 which support for sliding movement. parallel with the shaft axis a frame 9 havingastepped bore in which is free torevolve a ringlOi i arranged concentrically around the axis of the shaft and enveloping the drum 3. The drum 3 is bridged by a pair oflugs 11 carry;

ing a spindle 12 on which isxmonnt'ed for rocking movement a disc 13 disposed between said lugs "11. 15, 15 designates a pair of levers disposed one on each side ofthe disc 13 and rigidly connected by a crank pin 16 which passes through a radialslot 16 in thedisc 13. y Each of the levers15carries an outwardly projecting fulcrum pin 18 which. extend throughslots 19 in thedrum' 3 and which are journaled in apair ofboss'es 20 formed 01'1" the "inside of, thering "10. The levers 15, pin 16 and pins 18 thus form a single throw crank. 21designates-t1ie wing, the frame 22 of which is fixed to the disc 13.

Thewings are rocked by a compressed air eng' ine23to the cylinder '24 ofwhich are rigidly connected the inner ends of the tubular shaft members 1, 2. The piston 2 5"of' the engine is double acting, each stroke causing the wings to perform their power-i111 9 ulse and said iston has aoair of co-axial piston rods 26, 26 guided as indicated at 26 for rectilinear movementin the members '1, 2', and each of said rods is connected by a link 27. to one arm of abell crank27 pivoted at '28 to the corresponding shaft member, while. the other end of said bell crank is forked so as to present a pair of slotted arms 29 which engage the crank pin 16 on opposite sides of the disc 13; The cylinder 24 embodies an annular casing 30 forming an annular chamber 31 and surrounded by a stationary ring 32? which makes an airtight joint with the periphery of the casing and forms an annular duct to which compressed a-ir is supplied by a pipe 31 effected by a piston valve 32 operated by a pair of cam plates 35235, Said cam plates have each on. their inner faces stepped projection's. arranged annularly' and forming cams co-opcrating with end extensions on opposite sides of the'piston valve 32. I The valve works in a chest having a pair of exhaust ports 33, 33Fand a pair of admission.

ports 3t,34 the latter being adapted to communicate with an inlet port 36 establishing communication between the interior of member 32 and a chamber 32 form-edby a reduced central portion of the valve 32. The plates 35 35"v form the sides of a normally stationary casing 35 which surrounds the cylinder 24 and is revolubly supported ibyv I bearings 36 on the shaftmembers 1, As

shown in Fig. 4:, each cam plate comprises a pair of cam steps 38, 38 of equal height and a peak step 39, such steps during the rotation of the cylinder with the shaft acting successively on the corresponding ends of the valve. The two cam plates are identical but off-set to the extent of 180. The -oper-,

ation is as follows :Regarding Figs. 1 and 4, with the piston 25 in the position shown, the left hand valve end engages the intermediate step 38 of the corresponding cam plate, and both the inlet andexhaust ports. are closed by the valve, this position of the;

valve being shown in Fig. 4. As the cylinder continues to rotate around its axisthis end of the valve rides up onto the step 39, so

that the valve is moved to theright, thus passing compressed air from the chamber32" through port 34 so that the piston. 25 is driven to the-left, while the exhaust takes' placeion the other side ofthepiston through port 33. This movement of the piston will cause both wings to perform their power stroke. The end of the piston valve will then slide down onto the opposite step 38 so that the valve will be moved back to its original posit-ion, i. e. closing theadmission and exhaust ports, in which position it will The distribution is will be driven to the right, thereby causing the wings to flap again, in which position the piston remains until the completion of the revolution of the wing shaft. The cycle is then repeated.

Regarding the right h and end of the shaft, itwill beseenthat as the piston moves to the left the wing is rocked about the fulcrum 12 from the position A to position B, transversely to the axis of the wing shaft, the piston rod acting through the link 27" causing the bell crank 27 to rock anti-clockwise wherethe levers 15, 15 are moved by the forked .end. of the bell crank clockwise, this moreis operated simultaneously, and the corresponding .bellr crank will rock clockwise. Thus as the w1n shaft rotates the WIUO'S b b turning therewlth are caused by the piston to perform a power stroke acting transversely to the sha'lt'axis, this power stroke being rapidly executed, so that it is completed duringa fraction of the revolution of the shaft. As the shaft continues to rotate the wing is carried around feathering from position B until it arrives at its original position it again, 1. c. after half a revolut on of the shaft, whereupon -the operation is repeated, the; piston moving n the opposite direction and the wing movingagain'fromA "to B,

but with its opposite face acting. Thus for each revolution of the shaft there are two power impulses of the' wlngs, and such power impulses taking place at every half revolution of the shaft and during a portion of such half revolution.

The cam plates 35, 35 are adjustable around, the axis of the wing shaft, so that the power stroke of the wings may be timed to occur at dilierent angles, such adjustn'ieut being effected by the provision on the. casing 35 ofa worm segment 40 with which engages a worm-lion a shaft l2 supported by the frame 7 and turned by a hand wheel 43 (Fig.

3). Thus by turning the .worm the position of' the cam plates may be adjusted relatively to the valve, so that the wingsmay be caused to beat in a substantially vertical plane for rapid ascent or hovering, or-in a horizontal direction contrary :to the direction of travel of the craft to use the wings as, a brake, in addition tothe norn'ial'beat for propulsion of the craft.

. The amplitude of movement of the wings is adjustable, by means of a hand wheel 45 fixed to a shaft 46 supported for rotation by brackets 47 on the members 4, said shaft carrying at opposite ends a gear l8. One

of the pins 8 of each member is revolubly supported by the member 4- and is provided withascrew thread as shown at 8 ,.said screw thread engaging with an internally screwed bore in the memberfS. The screw threaded 16 sliding in the forked endsxof the bellf imam Epins carry at one end a fixed gear49 meshing with the gear 48. Thus by turning thehand ingiiithe slots 19,111 the; drum 3,1and thepin cranks, so that the ainplitude of movement of inthe member 2, so that the arm turns with bothwings may he variodasdesired.

- in order to. ensure the piston complet ng its strokes, and toj hold thepiston and thus the wings in position at theyends of their strokes, one, ofthe pistonrodsmay havelixe'd thereto an arm 50 extei'rding through a slot the shaft but is free to move with the piston mod. The armcarries at its outer end a roller engaging, a cam slot 51 formed in the casing '35, said slotbeing so formed that the travel of; the armisgequal to the full stroke of the pis na a The wing shaft is shown iiiFig. 3 as driven by aninternal combustion enginefi l'through bevel gearing 55,55, said engine also driving by chain gear 56 an air compressorb? delivering to a reservoir 58 flwhich communicates" with the member 32* by means of pipe 31*. Referring to Figs, ;5 and 6, showing-anal-y .v ternativedrive for the wings, in this case the movement of the piston is transmittedw' tohthe wings by a pair ofpulleys 60, 61 at each end of the wing.shaft,,said'pulley 60 being analogous to the disc 13, andthe drive piston rods 26 by gear identical to that above described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

being transmitted to the pulley .60 from the 29? designatesa bell crank corresponding to the bell cranlr29 and actuating the pulley The pulley 61 is revolubleon apin 62? carried by a forked bearin-garm 163 on a plate ,3 fixed to the drum 3 and said pulley is provided with a-.crank pin 64; The frame of the wing: comprises at its innerend a pair ofiin wardly bent arms 65, 65 cngagedbythe, pins 62*, 6d, thepin '62 forming the fulcrum 1 about which the wing rocks; o'lhe pulleytO {,ClEiX TESIJUHB) 61 by a pair of wire ropes 67 crossed wherethey pass through ,an aperture in the plate 3*, andsaid ropes'arepr'eferably fiXedat-theirends to the respective; pulleys. Asshown; the pulley 61 is smaller than the other pulley 60 so that the driveis geared up;

While the means above described-are well, adapted to operate the wings in the desired manner, itwill be understood that; considerable modification of the mechanism may be madewithout departing fro a the spirit of the inventiomwhich is essentially the movement of the wings in the particular manner. described. a *1" i 7 I claim 2+- I J- 1. Means foripro pellingj,air' and water 1 craft comprising a unidirectionally driven shaft, pivoting means mounted on saidshaft about a diametral axis which intersects the axis of said shaft, wings mounted on the outer ends of said pivoting means so that in the mid position of said pivoting means the centre lines of said wings are inalinement with theaxisv of saidshaffiand'means for rocking'said wings on their pivots unidirectionally to produce a power stroke transversely during a part of each revolution of the shaft, the wings aftereach power stroke rotating with; \the shaft in feathering positi'onto their initial positionfor commence- ,ment of a freshpower stroke.

V. 2..Means for propelling a r water icraft comprising 7 a unidirectionally driven shaft, transverse pivoting means fixed to saidshaft, wings mounted on said pivoting meansso as to rotate with said shaft substantially radially in feathering position i and means; for rocking said wings on their pivots unidirectionally to produce a power stroke transversely to such feathering position during a part-of each half revolution of: the shaft so that the wings beat with opposite faces alternately, the wings after each power stroke rotating with the shaft: in feathering position totheir initial positionfor commencement of a fresh power stroke,

Means for, propelling air a-ndwater craft comprising a unidirectionally'driven shaft, pivoting means mounted on said shaft about a diametralaxis whichintersects the axis of saidshaft, wings mounted on the outer ends, ofpsaid Jivoting means so that in the mid position 0 said'pivoting means the centre lines of said wings are in alinement with the axisvof said shaft andmeanscarried by said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively connected with said wings for rocking the latter on their pivots unidirectionally toiproduce apower stroke during a part of each revolutionof the shaft, the wings after each power stroke rotating with the shaft infeathering position to their ini-' tial position for commencement of afresh power StIOkBu v ,4, 'Meanswfor, propelling and water craft comprising a unidirectionally driven shaft, pivoting means mounted on said shaft about a idiametral' axis which intersects the v EtXlS 0f said ,shaft, wings mounted on the -outer ends of said pivoting means so thatin the mid position of said pivoting means the centre lines of said wings are in alinement with theaxls of said shaft and meanscarried by said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively connected with said wings for rocking the latter on theirpivots unidirectionally to producea power stroke during 'a part of each revolution of the shaft, and 1 means j ,operatively connected with said wing rocking means fortiming the operation of the latter; I v p r a I V- 5, Means for propelling air and water craft comprising ashaft, means for rotating said shaft, transverse pivoting means on said shaft, wings mounted on said'pivoting means v whereby the amplitude of'moveinent of said rotating said shaft, transverse pivoting f means on said tubularshaft, wings mounted on said pivoting means, a reciprocating sec- 7 *ond shaft coaxial with and mounted inside shaft rocking means. may be varied." 1o

6. Means for propelling air and-water craft comprising a'tubularlshaft, means for the first shaft for rotation therewith and operatively connected to said wings to rock same on said pivoting means in one direction during a part of each revolution of thesh'aft,

and means'carriedby said tubular shaft for driving said reciprocating shaft, the wings after each power stroke returningin tilted positionto theirinitial position forcommencement of a fresh power stroke.-

7. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising a'shaft, means for rotating said shaft,trans verse pivotmg means on opposite sldes of said shaft, wings mounted on said pivoting means, a power cylinder con-' nected to saidshaft for rotation therewith,

and a piston in said cylinder operatively connected'to said Wings to rock the latter on their pivoting means in one direction during a part [of each revolution -of the shaft, the

wings after each power stroke "reti'irning in' tilted position to their initial position for said pivoting means, a power cylinder con-' nected tOSfllCl shaft for rotatlon therewith, a

piston in said cylinder operatively connected tosaid wingsto rock the latter'on said pivoting means in one direction during apart of each revolution of-the shaft, a frame supporting sald wing shaft, a valve connected to said cylinder and controlling the distribution thereof, and camming means carried by said' frame and adapted to operate said valve during rotationof the cylinder, the wings after each power stroke returnlng 1n tilted position to their initial position for comcommencement of a fresh power stroke.

9. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising ashaft, means for rotating said shaft, transverse pivoting means on opposite ends o'fsaid shaft, wings mounted on said pivotinggmeans, a powe'r'cylindercon nectedto said shaft-for'rotation therewith, a

' piston in said cylinder operatively connected to said wings to rock the latter on said pivoting means'in one direction during a part of each revolution of the shaft, a frame supporting said wing shaft, a valve connected to said cylinder and controlling the distribution thereof, adjustable camming means carried by said frame and adapted to operate said valve during rotation of the cylinder, and means for adjusting said camming means so that the actuation of the valve, and thereby the rocking of the wings, may be timed, the wings after each power stroke returning in tilted position to their initial position for commencement of a fresh power stroke.

10. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, transverse pivoting means on opposite ends of said shaft, wings mounted on said pivoting means, a power cylinder connected to said shaft for rotation therewith,

a double acting piston in said cylinder operatively connected to said wings to rock the latter in one direction during a part of each revolution of the shaft, a frame supporting said wing shaft, a valve connected'to said cylinder and controlling the distribution to both sides of said ,cylin'der alternately, adjustable camming means carried by said frame and adapted to operate'said valve during rotation of the cylinder, means for adjusting said camming means sothat the actuation of the valve and thereby the rocking of the wings may be timed, said wings after each power stroke returning in tilted position to their initial position for commencement of a fresh power stroke.

f11. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising a shaft, means'for rotat ing said shaft, transverse pivoting means on the ends of said shaft, a wing mounted on each of said pivoting means, a power cylinder fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a double actingpiston in said cylinder operatively connected on each side to one of said ings to rock the latter simultaneously on said pivoting means in one direction during .a part of each revolution of the shaft, a frame revolubly supporting said wing shaft, apiston valve controlling said cylinder and adapted to move in opposite directions to control the distribution to both sides of said cylinder alternately, a drum casing carried by said frame and revolubly mounted for rotation around said shaft, cams formed on each sideof said casing and adapted to operate on opposite sides of the piston valve to move same in opposite directions, and means for adjusting the drum around the shaft, so that the timing of the valve may be effected, and said wings after each power stroke returning in tilted position to their initial position for commencement of a fresh power stroke.

12. Means for propelling air and Water craft comprisinga rotary shaft, means for rotating said shaft, transverse" pivoting means on each end of said shaft, a lever mounted on said pivoting means, means carried by said shaft for rocking said lever in one direction during a part of each revolution of the rotary shaft, a wing attachedto said lever, a stationary frame supporting said rotary shaft, a sliding member carried by said frame and adjustable parallel with the rotary shaft, a ring supported by said ad'- justable member for rotation concentrically with said rotary shaft, a crank pivoted to the interior of said ring, a second lever car ried by said shaft, and having a slotted arm engaged with the crank pin, means for adjusting the ring supporting member to move the crank pin in the slotted arm towards and away from the pivot of said second lever, and saidcrank engaging with its journals longitudinal slots in opposite sides of the shaft. r

18. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, transverse pivoting means on said shaft, wings mounted on said; pivoting the outer ends of said shafts, a wing mounted on said pivoting means at each end of the shaft, a double acting pistonin said cylinder, a piston rod on each side of said piston operatively connected to said wings to rock the latter at each piston stroke in'one direc' 'tion during a part of each revolution of the shafts, a frame supporting said shafts, a valve chest connected to said cylinder, a

- piston valve in said chest adapted to admit compressed air to both sides of said cylinder alternately, a drum casing revolublysupported for rotation around said shafts, cams on each side of said drum'casing adapted to move the piston valve in opposite directions direction during a part of each revolution of the shaft, a frame supporting said shafts, a valve chest connected to said cylinder, a

piston valve in'said chest adapted to admit compressed air to both sides of said piston alternately, a drum casing revolubly support edfor rotationyaround saidshafts, cams on 7 each side of said drum casing adapted to i move the piston valve in opposite directions to admit compressed air to opposite sides of the piston alternately, means for manually rotating said drum, a cam groove inserted in said drum casing, an arm fixed to one of the piston rods and engaging with the cam groove, said cam groove having a rise equal to the full stroke of the piston.

16. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising two tubular coaxial shafts,

'a compressed air enginecomprising a cylinder interposed coaxially between and rigid ly connected to said shafts, transverse pivoting means on the outer ends of said shafts, a wing mounted on saidpivotingmeans at the outer ends of the shafts, a double acting piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on each side of said piston, operatively connected to said wings, to rock the latter at each piston stroke in one direction during a part of each revolution of the shaft, a frame supporting said shafts, a valve chest connected to said cylinder, a piston valve in said chest, adapted to admit compressed air to both sides of said piston alternately, a drum casing revolubly supported for rotation around said shafts,

camson each side of said drum casing adapted to move the piston valve in opposite directions to admit compressed air to opposite sides of the piston alternately,

means for manually rotating said drum cas- 7 ing, a cam groove formed in the periphery of said casing, an arm fixed to one of the piston rods and engaging with the cam groove, said cam groove having a lateral rise equal to the full stroke of the piston, an air compressor adapted to supply compressed air to'said engine and a prime mover connected to one of said shafts and to the air compressor to drive both.

I have signed this specification.

. WILLIAM POTTS.

to admit compressed air to opposite sides of a the cylinder alternately, and means for manually rotating said drum.

7 15. Means for propelling air and water craft comprising two tubular coaxial shafts, a compressed air engine comprising a cyl nder interposed coaxially between and rigidly connecting said shafts, means for rotating said shafts, transverse pivotlng means on the outer ends of said shafts, a wing mount- 7 ed on said pivoting means at the outer ends of the shafts, adouble acting'piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on each side of said piston operatively connected to said wings to rock the latter at each piston stroke n one 

